The first semi-final of the 2024 U19 World Cup will be played between India and South Africa. After the end of the first innings of the match, South Africa batted first and scored 244 runs in 50 overs for 7 wickets on the board. Luan-Dre Pretorius played the biggest innings of 76 runs for the team. During this period, Raj Limbani took a maximum of three wickets for India.
In the match played at Willowmoor Park, Benoni, India won the toss and opted to bowl, inviting the opposition South African to bat first. This decision was largely successful for India as they restricted Africa to less than 250 runs. India did not allow Africa to gain momentum and score big by losing wickets early. However, Tristan Luce, who batted at number nine, played an important innings of 23* runs in 12 balls in which he hit 1 four and 2 sixes.
South Africa, who came to bat first, needed a good start. He lost the first wicket in the 5th over by 23 runs. The first blow for Africa came in the form of Steve Stolk who returned to the pavilion after scoring 14 runs in 17 balls with the help of 2 fours and 1 six. Then the team lost the second wicket in the 9th over in the form of David Tiger, who was out on the second ball without opening the account.
After two early wickets fell, Africa was taken over by Richard Seletswane and Luan-Dre Pretorius and both formed a partnership of 72 runs (133 balls) for the third wicket. This partnership was broken by Musheer Khan with the wicket of Luan-Dre Pretorius in the 31st over. Pretorius, who played a good innings, returned to the pavilion after scoring 76 runs in 102 balls with the help of 6 fours and 3 sixes.
Then Richard Seletswen along with Oliver Whitehead formed a partnership of 45 runs (58 balls) for the fourth wicket. This blossoming partnership was broken by Musheer Khan with the wicket of Oliver Whitehead in the 40th over. Whitehead scored 22 runs in 34 balls with 4 fours. The team then received the fifth strike with Dewan Marais (03) in the 43rd over.
However, thereafter Richard Seletswen and captain Juan James formed a partnership of 40 (25 balls) for the sixth wicket. This partnership was broken by Naman Tiwari with the wicket of Richard Seletswen in the 47th over. Richard, who was on his way to a brilliant innings, returned to the pavilion after scoring 64 runs in 100 balls with the help of 4 fours and 2 sixes. Then, in the 48th over, quick-scoring captain Juan James was out after scoring 24 runs in 19 balls with the help of 1 four and 1 six.
Raj Limbani took a maximum of 3 wickets for India. He scored 60 runs in 9 overs. Apart from this, Musheer Khan took two wickets to his name. During this time, Musheer scored 43 runs in 10 overs. While Naman Tiwari and Soumi Pandey scored 1 each.